Jewish wedding

jewish wedding : photo by F, July 2008, Beer Sheva, ISRAEL

そしてjewish wedding。

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これまた郊外の大きなセレモニーホールにて、この日の招待客は300人、しかし前日のバルミツヴァよりは小規模。

やはり夕日の沈むころから人は集まり始め、豪華にセッティングされたガーデンスペースで、皆思い思いに飲み食いしながら小１時間、新郎新婦を待つ。ユダヤ人にとっての一日は日没から、ということもあって、こちらのフォーマルパーティーは、こんな感じが主流らしい。

little jewish wedding : photo by F, July 2008, Beer Sheva, ISRAEL

ところでsushiカウンターを準備中、オーソドックスのおっちゃんが何やらいちゃもんつけてきた（そう見えた）。どうも、コシェルの食規定の証明書みたいのを見せろと言っている。。私はそのとき一人だったため、「店主は今店に戻っている。私はただのヘルパーだから知らない」としどろもどろのヘブライ語で答えると、「じゃあ店主にすぐ電話しろ」とな。こっちは忙しいのに、、うちのオーナーはその辺のことわきまえてそうな人だから、わざわざ電話したくなかったけど、一応連絡。もちろん問題なし。　しかしその後も、まるで無許可で露店出してるみたいにいろいろ問いただされてた。一応この仕事、主催者側からオファー受けてやってるんですけど？

あたりはすっかり暗くなり、wedding仕様の車に乗っていよいよ花嫁花婿の登場。　しかしここでは私、一寿司職人の身、そう勝手に店から離れるわけにもいかずsushiを巻き巻き（完全にうわの空）、、でももっとお嫁さん近くで見たーいとソワソワ、ワクワク。

二人は、フパと呼ばれるテントのようなものが設置されたステージに上がり、ラバイが長い説教（半分歌のようで、仏式のお経みたいに聞こえた）のようなものを唱えあげる。横にいたうちの店のオーナーも一緒に唱えてる。。覚えてるの？って聞いたら、「当ったりめーよ♪」って。ちなみに彼、ふだんはキパも着けない、一見どっちかっていうと無信仰な部類かと思ってたんだけど。でも家族でわざわざフランスからイスラエルに移住してきたってことは、それなりにユダヤのルーツに思い入れがあってのことだもんな。

儀式の最後には、新郎がワイングラスを足で勢いよく踏みつけて割り、周囲の大歓声とともに晴れて二人は夫婦になります。このシーン、見たかったけど遠目＆人だかりでとてもじゃありませんでした。

その後、宴は会場を移し、着席での豪華なディナーと、歓喜いっぱいきらびやかなダンスパーティがスタートします。

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And Jewish wedding.

Also it was held in a big ceremony hall, with 300 guest, but smaller than the bar mitzvah party on the day before.

Guests were started to gather there with sunset, and they enjoyed food, drink and conversation, waiting for the bride and groom for about 1 hour in celebration atmosphere. In Jewish custom, day starts from evening (after sunset) , so this is standard way for their formal party.

By the way, when I was setting up the sushi counter, an orthodox jew’s old man came to pick a fight with me (at least it looked so). And it seemd that he was asking me to show the certificate for kosher food (are those that conform to the jewish dietary laws). I was alone at that time, so I told him that the owner went back to his house to pick up something and I’m just a staff, in poor Hebrew. Then he told me to call him right then. I was busy and I didn’t want to call because I supposed it was not so necessary with my owner’s thorough character. But I did as the old man wanted and it resulted that of course there was no problem. But after confirmed kosher, he asked many questions as if we open the sushi counter without any permition. We got an offer to serve sushi at the party from the host anyway, eh?

Back to the wedding,, it’s aleady gotten dark, then finally bride and groom appeared by the car which was decolated specially for wedding. I wanted to see the bride more closely, but I was a sushi chef here, I couldn’t leave my job so easily, continued rolling, rolling (completely absent-minded already), getting the fidget,,,excited,,,

They stood in the fupa (looks like a tent, set up especially for jewish wedding ceremony) on the stage. A rabbi preached like singing (it sounded like buddhism sutra), and the owner startd to sing together. I was surprised and asked him if he rememberd it? He said “Of course♪” He usually doesn’t put even kippa on his head, so I supposed that he might be non religious person. But actually, his family immigrated to Israel from Frence, it means that they are following jewish roots at least.

At the last of the ceremony, a wine glass was steped and broken by groom, they became wife and husband finally, with big applauses and exultations. I wanted to see this seen, but it was impossible because of the distance and crowd..

Then they move to inside to have luxurious wedding dinner and dreamy dance party, drunk with happiness and ecstasy!!